16 March 2023
Who does this notice affect?
All importers and customs brokers who currently lodge imported cargo documentation via the COLS interface for assessment.
What is the Enhancement?
The department has developed an IT solution that will allow all third-party cargo logistics software providers, or companies with in-house software development teams, an opportunity to integrate with COLS. Six Application Programming Interface (API) interfaces including submit new lodgement, lodgement status check, re-assessment request, payment status check, making a payment and making enquires, have been developed to enable direct integration with COLS.
What has changed?
From the revised release date of Friday 24 March, the COLS System will allow all third-party cargo logistics software providers and in-house software development teams an opportunity to integrate with COLS.
COLS has also been enhanced to enable the lodgement and storage of documentation for import declarations processed through Automatic Entry Processing (AEP). Clients with these arrangements are accredited to assess import documentation and receive automatic directions. Visit our Automatic-Entry-Processing webpage for further information regarding AEP scheme. Further information will be provided by the department on the adoption of this capability within the current AEP scheme.
Further information
Please refer to the department’s website for further details on this. A Software Developers Guide, providing the technical interface specifications for this system is also included on the website.